The Palace/Stamford Center for the Arts debuted its "Playtime at The Palace" series for kids a few weeks ago (shown above). Next up is "Story Pirates" on Sunday, March 9.

The Palace/Stamford Center for the Arts debuted its "Playtime at The Palace" series for kids a few weeks ago (shown above). Next up is "Story Pirates" on Sunday, March 9.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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The Palace/Stamford Center for the Arts debuted its "Playtime at The Palace" series for kids a few weeks ago. Next up is "Story Pirates" on Sunday, March 9. Above is the poster for the event.

The Palace/Stamford Center for the Arts debuted its "Playtime at The Palace" series for kids a few weeks ago. Next up is "Story Pirates" on Sunday, March 9. Above is the poster for the event.

Photo: Contributed Photo

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From 'Pirates' to P.i.E. for families at Palace

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A new series to engage and amuse children and promote "quality family time" is underway in Stamford with "Playtime at The Palace."

Carol Bryan, director of education at The Palace/Stamford Center for the Arts, said last week that SCA decided to debut the series in mid-February "to provide quality family time by sharing an appreciation for the performing arts that will ignite the child's growth through imagination and discovery."

All shows -- which run about 60 minutes -- are on Sundays at 3 p.m. Although the series is geared for ages 3 to 10, it is appropriate for all "kids at heart," said B.T. McNicholl, producing artistic director at The Palace. Ticket prices vary with the show.

Next up on Sunday, March 9, is "Story Pirates." According to the event brochure, "Pirates" will feature "puppets, catchy songs and outrageous sketches, all the while motivating kids to pick up a pencil and write down their own fantastic adventures. Story topics run the gamut from kung fu ninja babies (who fight) crime to cats flying and tickle-monsters who rule the world."

Each show in the series features "performers (who) are nationally celebrated professionals who perform specifically for families, whether it be in puppetry, story telling through improvisation, the magic of silent films with live accompaniment or the art of bubble manipulations and comedy," Bryan said.

More Information

March 30 -- "Silent Slapstick." All tickets are $10. SCA describes this as an all-ages show featuring three short slapstick silent comedies from the 1920s, presented with musical accompaniment by Lincoln Center's noted silent film accompanist/historian Ben Model. It will be "an ideal opportunity to introduce youngsters to inventive visual humor at the Palace Cinema."

April 6 -- P.i.E. (Puppets in Education). All tickets are $15. This program will teach children "how to put on their very own puppet show," according to SCA. The Monkey Boys team will teach participants ways to organize a show and methods to create stuffed animals and puppets using "simple construction techniques." Some of the creations will be featured in a short show that will end the session.

April 13 -- "Bubble Mania" features visual comedy, big band swing music and soap bubble manipulations, including trapping people inside a giant bubble, according to the Palace